BUXTON, Early June

Mason and Meri graduated from school on a hot June morning. Mason and Marie's wedding was planned for the following week at the local church. Mason had no idea that his parents had invited his grandparent's to both his graduation and his wedding.

So when he looked in the audience during the graduation ceremony, he saw Jack, Elizabeth, Kiki, Bradley, Lydie, and Charlie. The look of pride on their faces and those of his parents and Marie made him feel very fortunate to have a loving family.

He thought back to when he had proposed to Marie, a few weeks before. He had taken her to the lake just outside town and brought a picnic. They had already talked about getting married, but he knew she deserved to be asked properly.

During the picnic, he mentioned that there was a house for rent in Hope Valley that he thought she would like. It had two bedrooms and it had electricity and indoor plumbing because it was in town. He didn't know why but for some reason, she had not thought of moving back to Hope Valley even though she knew that he had a job at the sawmill starting at the end of August.

So when he mentioned the house, it hit her and she objected, not wanting to be anywhere near her father. "I don't want to see him, Mason. I can't go back there."

He had panicked momentarily and then remembered that he needed to reiterate the need for her to trust him. "Marie, by the time we go home, you will be my wife. I will not let anything happen to you."

"I still don't understand why you want to be with me."

"Because I love you so much. I want to be your husband." She hadn't returned the sentiment at all yet but he knew that she felt something for him. She kissed him back when he initiated affection and she held his hand as often as they could. He could see it even if she didn't say it. "Marie, don't you want to be with me?"

"I do I just never thought I would go back there."

"You don't have to see him, you know. I will go to the store. You won't have to." He saw the look in her eyes. She knew that she belonged with him. "Marry me, babe. I will make sure you are safe and I will always take care of you."

She agreed and he felt relief.

Now, she sat with his parents and younger siblings, watching, wearing the promise ring he gave her on her left hand instead of her right. She seemed happy too. That's what he wanted most.

….

The whole family went back to Caleb and Amy's for dinner to celebrate Meri and Mason's graduation.

Marie helped Amy cook dinner, a bit overwhelmed by the number of people present.

"You ok, sweetie?" Amy asked her.

"Yeah, it's just a bit overwhelming."

"Imagine if all of Jack and Elizabeth's kids and grandkids were here. That's a lot of people."

"They have twelve kids, right?"

"Yes, and twenty three grandkids at last count."

"Oh my goodness."

"Yes, but all of them, every single one of them, will love you because you are going to be a Thornton. I have never met a more wonderful group of people."

The concept of love and showing love and feeling love was foreign to her. She didn't understand it but sometimes she did feel an overwhelming sense of longing to be with Mason. Like right that moment, he wasn't around her. He was only in the other room but she needed to see him soon.

She looked toward the living room when she heard him laugh. "Why don't you go see him?"

"Who?"

"Mase. You are missing him, yes?"

"Yes, but I don't know why. He's just in there."

"Because you love him, sweetheart. Part of feeling that is wanting to be with him all the time."

"Do you feel that with Mr. Thornton?"

"Constantly. I don't feel complete unless I see him every day."

"That must have been hard when he was away for his job."

"So hard. He would be gone for weeks at a time. Thankfully, I had children to keep me busy."

"Amy, what if I can't be a good wife or mother? I don't know what love means, let alone how to show it. Maybe this whole thing is a huge mistake."

"Marie, sweetie, you do know how to show love. I have seen you with Lily and I have seen you with Mason. You just don't realize that is what is happening. Your heart is ready."

"What if I can't….what if I disappoint him? I don't want him to be unhappy with me."

Mason walked in just as she said the words. "You could never disappoint me, Marie." He touched her hand. "Let's go talk outside for a few minutes."

"I need to help your mom."

"Go ahead, Marie. I'll get Elizabeth to help me."

Marie wiped a stray tear from her cheek and followed Mason outside into the sunshine. He slipped his arm around her waist as they walked, not speaking, just walking until they found themselves at the lake.

They sat against a large tree and relaxed. Mason took her hand and held it, slipping his fingers between hers. "Mason, I don't know how to be your wife. I don't want you to be unhappy with me."

"I have never been a husband either but I know that we have what it takes to make it and to be happy."

She wished she was as sure as him. "I'm scared."

"What are you scared of?" He watched her face carefully, first blushing and then the tears started.

"You and I will go slow and everything will be just fine."

He leaned toward her, brushing his lips over hers softly at first. Then he slowly raised his hand and slipped it behind her neck, pulling her in deeper. She sighed, slipping her arms around his waist.

As he kissed her, she felt his love, felt his need for her, and for some unexplained reason, she needed him to know how much she cared too. Something tugged at her heart for the first time ever and it was important that she told him. "Mason," she said, pulling back slightly. "I love you."

He smiled at her and pulled her to his chest. "I know."

"You do?"

"I can always see it in your eyes. Words aren't always necessary." As if to prove his point, he kissed her once more and then sighed. "I can't wait until next week."

"Me either." She meant it.

…..

A few days later, Charlotte showed up too. Mason was her first great-grandchild to get married. She wasn't going to miss it.

Mason moved most of his things to the apartment above the store that Marie was using and that would be their home until they moved to Hope Valley.

"Mase?"

"Yeah, I'm in the bedroom," he told her.

"Hey."

"Hi, babe." He kissed her hello and continued unpacking his clothes. "You want to come over for dinner tonight?"

"Actually, I thought maybe you could come over here for dinner."

"Oh ok. Sure."

"You don't have to, but I just thought we could maybe talk."

"I'll be here. What time?"

"I get off at six. So maybe six thirty?"

"Ok."

…..

Marie put a pork roast in the oven after she talked to Mason so that it would be done by dinner time. When she finished with work, she ran upstairs and changed her clothes. Next she lit a few candles and prepared potatoes and gravy and dough for biscuits.

At six thirty, she heard a knock on the door. She told him to come in and slid the biscuits in the oven to cook.

Mason looked handsome in his dress shirt and pants. "Hi."

"Hey. Dinner should be done in ten minutes. Would you like something to drink?"

"Coffee would be nice. I can get it though. You sit and rest. You've been on your feet all day," he told her, guiding her to a chair.

"I'm ok. I invited you."

"Babe, this is going to be my home in two more days too and you will be my wife. There will be times when I'm too tired to do anything. Tonight, I want to take care of you."

"Ok, thank you." In her head, men didn't care for their wives like that. Except Caleb. He was the only role model she had seen for that role. Her own mother left so Amy was her only wife role model and Amy seemed to care for everyone like it was second nature. She hoped it came to her that naturally one day.

"Marie, I spoke with Mrs. Cramer."

"About what?"

"About our honeymoon trip. She is letting you have a week off so we can go."

"Can we afford to go? I don't make very much."

"Papa told me that his gift to us is a compartment car to Harris Town and a room at my cousin Abbie's boarding house in Harris Town. We don't need to pay anything."

"Really? Why would he do that?"

"Because I'm his grandson and you will be his granddaughter. He wants to do this for us." Mason placed two cups of coffee on the table and sat next to her. "Besides, it will be good for us to get away alone and my Uncle Jay is getting married in Harris Town while we are there. I thought it might be nice to take my new bride to a wedding." She had never imagined such generosity. It was not an experience she had had before meeting the Thorntons. "What do you think?" he asked.

"I think it's wonderful and…" her voice trailed off as her tears started. He pulled her over to his lap and held her close.

"Happy tears?" She surprised him by initiating a long, sweet kiss. "I love you, Marie."

She gazed into his brown eyes and knew that she was in deep. What a good life she was going to have as Marie Thornton. A new name and new experiences were awaiting her in two days time. For once, she looked forward and refused to dwell on the past and it felt good.

….

Marie went to Mason's house for dinner the next night. Jack and Caleb took him and the boys out to the lake to fish so it was just the girls, including Great-Grandma Charlotte, at the house.

What Marie didn't know was they had planned a party of sorts to give her some of the things she might need in Hope Valley and as a new wife. After dinner, they all went into the living room.

"What's going on?" Marie asked, suspicious of the gift wrapped boxes on the side table.

"Just a few things for you," Elizabeth told her. She took her hand gently and sat with her on the couch. "We all know what it is like to be a new bride and to be put into a new situation that may be difficult. If you ever feel lonely or anything, please remember how big our family is and that we love you and since you will be in Hope Valley, there will be a lot of family around to help. Most of all though, remember to rely on Mason."

She nodded and felt her tears filling her eyes. "Thank you, Mrs. Thornton."

"Nonsense, you can call me Grandma, or Elizabeth if you prefer. You will be a Mrs. Thornton yourself tomorrow and there is no need for formalities."

Elizabeth handed her the gift closest to her and waited for her reaction. "Oh! Mrs…I mean Elizabeth. This is beautiful." She ran her hand softly over the quilt that lay on her lap.

"When I was a bride many years ago, my good friends made this for me as a gift. I want to pass it on to you."

"What about one of your daughters? I mean…"

"Sweetheart, I want you and my grandson to have this. Just do me a favor. Pass it on to your own grandchild one day. I want to keep it in the family."

"Thank you." Elizabeth moved and Amy sat down next to Marie.

She handed a box to Marie and waited for her to open it. It was full of linens and hand embroidered pillowcases. Marie looked at Amy, knowing she had more than likely made them herself. "Sweetheart, I am so happy that you will be my daughter tomorrow. I have really enjoyed getting to know you the last few months and I am grateful that you will be taking care of Mason now. I could never pick another person better for the job. I made these, knowing one day that I would give it to someone who would put them to good use."

Amy reached for her and hugged her tightly, knowing she would probably not initiate affection herself. Marie found herself sinking into her, feeling the motherly love that Amy seemed to exude.

Amy pulled back and moved again, allowing Charlotte the seat next to Marie. She handed Marie a small black velvet bag. Marie opened it and carefully emptied the contents into her hand. "Rings?"

"I heard that you and Mason may be in need of wedding rings."

"I can't believe this," she said quietly. "You all are being so kind and I don't deserve it. I have never known people like you and I cannot believe that I will be in your family. I am so grateful." Her tears overflowed and Charlotte hugged her.

"You do deserve it, dear. Everyone deserves to have love and that includes those of us that have had hard lives. I have known a lifetime of love. I have so many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and I had three wonderful husbands that have each taught me how wonderful it can be. If you look at your rings from time to time and think about what they mean and then make sure you always convey how much you cherish the time you have with your husband, your heart will be filled with love. You will be able to get through the tough times that come along."

"I will try to remember that."

…..

AT THE LAKE

The men and boys sat around a fire, cooking their fish that they had just caught.

Jack watched Caleb talking to Mason. Mason seemed very happy and not nervous at all about the next day. That was how he remembered feeling about Elizabeth on their wedding day. She was the person he loved most, the one he wanted to spend all his time with. She still was. He would do anything for her, including move to wherever she wanted in a few years. If it made her happy, he would do it.

"Papa?" Joey said as he walked up to him.

"Hey, bud. How are you?"

"Ok."

"Something bothering you?" The boy looked sad.

"No, I guess not." He leaned against Jack's shoulder. "I miss you when you aren't here."

"Do you?'

"Yes."

"I miss you too, Joe."

"Me?"

"Yes." Jack picked him up and placed him on his lap, even though the boy was nine and tall for his age. "I miss your blue eyes and your blonde hair. You look a lot like your daddy did at your age."

"I do? Mama says I look like Dad."

"She's right."

"Can you stay?"

"You mean and not go home?"

"Yeah. Maybe live here."

"Maybe someday but what would happen if you moved again because of your dad's job? Then we would be here and you wouldn't."

"You could come too!"

Jack smiled and kissed the top of his head. "Love you, bud."

"Love you too, Papa."

…..

"Nervous, Mase?" Caleb asked him.

"Nope."

"When do you need to move to Hope Valley?"

"My job starts August 31. So we will go the week before."

"Do you have a place to live?"

"Yes, sir. I put a deposit down on a house to rent."

"Very good, son. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Dad."

"I mean it. You are so amazing to Marie. She needs love and stability and you give that to her."

"I love her, Dad."

"It's that simple, isn't it?"